A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by three members of the Purcellville Town Council requesting clarification on whether state code requires a two-thirds majority vote to adopt a tax rate. Judge James E. Plowman ruled no legal rights were being infringed.
The suit was submitted by councilmembers Erin Rayner, Caleb Stought, and Kevin Wright after the Purcellville Town Council last year adopted tax rates with a simple majority and then again, this year adopted a tax rate with a simple majority. Historically, Loudoun’s towns have operated under the belief that a two-thirds majority was required adopt a tax rate.
That belief was challenged by former Purcellville Town Attorney John Cafferky, who said that is only the case if the council is imposing a new tax, not setting a rate equal to or lower than the existing tax…